PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Xavier women’s basketball shot just 24.6 percent from the floor and 11.1 percent from three-point range as they fell at Villanova, 61-32, in BIG EAST Conference action at The Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.

With the loss the Musketeers fall to 8-12 overall and 3-5 in BIG EAST play, while the Wildcats improve to 14-5 on the season and 4-4 in conference.

The Blue and White, who entered the contest ranked third in the conference play in three-point field goals per game (8.0), knocked down 2-of-18 shots from behind the arc.

Senior Shatyra Hawkes (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) led the team with nine points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jenna Crittendon (Union, Ky./Ryle) chipped in with eight points and six boards, while the BIG EAST’s leader in steals Aliyah Zantt (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg HS) scored five points to go with a trio of thefts.

The Wildcats, who knocked down 10 triples on the afternoon and had three players finish in double figures, were led by Devon Kane’s game-high 16 points.

Villanova opened the game with a 22-8 run over the first 10:43 of the opening half. A three-pointer from the right-wing from freshman Leah Schaefer (Alexandria, Ky./Highlands HS) stopped the run and made the score 22-11 (8:52). The Wildcats continued to pour it on, using a 16-2 run, capped by a Emily Leer triple, over the final 6:41 of the half to take a 38-13 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

Xavier shot just 6-of-27 (22.2 percent) from the field and 1-of-12 (8.3 percent) from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes, while the Wildcats lit it up, knocking down 53.6 percent (15-of-28) of their field goal attempts, which included six trifectas. XU’s 13 first half points and 22.2 percent field goal percentage were both season-lows for the Blue and White.

In the second half, Villanova stayed in control, using a 21-10 run over the first ten minutes of the period to grab a 59-23 advantage. The Wildcats extended their lead to as many as 36 points before picking up the 61-32 victory.

The Blue and White will now travel to Queens, N.Y. for their final BIG EAST contest of the month. Xavier will face St. John’s (Jan. 29) to wrap up the month of January.